[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 60 (Tuesday, May 16, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Page S4010]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      COMMENDING THOMAS ALESSANDRO

 Mr. MOYNIHAN. Mr. President, I rise today to give praise and 
recognition to one of my fellow New Yorkers who has devoted his life to 
helping heal the wounds of crime. Thomas Alessandro recently received 
the Crime Victim Service Award from Attorney General Janet Reno. I rise 
today to echo that recognition and to briefly describe Mr. Alessandro's 
innovation and tireless work in this field.
  The Crime Victim Service Award was given to Mr. Alessandro as part of 
the Justice Department's Office for Victims of Crime's 20th annual 
observance of National Crime Victims' Rights Week, held this year from 
April 9 to April 15. This week of observance enables communities across 
the country to recognize the millions of Americans who have felt the 
burdens of crime and those who have enabled them to navigate the 
difficult and often complex path to justice. This highlights the 
efforts of Mr. Alessandro and other outstanding individuals by drawing 
attention to their cause, and praising all citizens of the Nation who 
work toward this laudable ideal. As part of this week of recognition 
the Attorney General awarded the Crime Victim Service award to Mr. 
Alessandro, four other individuals, four organizations and two 
families. Mr. Alessandro was selected from 110 nominees for the award 
because of his outstanding progress and innovation in the field of 
crime victim service, the highest federal award for service to victims 
of crime. Mr. Alessandro is a shining example of how our law 
enforcement officials should protect justice and help victims of 
injustice seek healing.
  Mr. Alessandro has dedicated the last 22 years of his life to the 
service of crime victims. One of his most astounding innovations was 
the development of the Victims Aid Services into a comprehensive 
program addressing the needs of all crime victims who come to the New 
York County District Attorney's Office. Additionally, Mr. Alessandro 
forged many public and private sector partnerships to strive toward the 
goal of justice. Among these partnerships and organizational 
enhancements, he established a counseling department and created a 
child victim specialist division. These additional tools allow the New 
York District Attorney's Office to protect the rights of victims not 
only in the form of conviction of criminals, but also in the form of 
healing the emotional scars of the victim especially the young victim. 
This second step is essential to making this society healthier and 
safer. The counseling staff is now made up of certified clinical social 
workers who provide individual and group therapy for victims. It is my 
honor to rise in recognition of this great man who actualizes this 
ideal.
  In addition to counseling services, Mr. Alessandro has directed the 
development of new technology to increase the efficiency and 
availability of victim services, including protection order tracing and 
victim notification systems. He has forged partnerships with private 
sector organizations, including the AT&T Cell Phone Project, which, 
along with additional services, provides crime victims with 911 
programmed cell phones for use in emergencies.
  Mr. Alessandro's commitment to the needs of crime victims does not 
stop when he leaves the office. His tireless efforts continue into 
volunteer service. Beyond his professional role, Mr. Alessandro has 
been actively involved with numerous other state and local initiatives, 
such as the development of the New York city Victim Information and 
Notification System. For these accomplishments and innovations in this 
heroic field I rise to thank Thomas Alessandro and to draw this 
institution's attention to his outstanding work in this field.

                          ____________________